9/12/16: Benjamin Smith, Executive Director, Southern Word

Benjamin Smith, Executive Director of Southern Word, returns to speak to the Rotary after three-and-a-half years. Southern Word offers creative solutions for youth to build literacy and presentation skills, reconnect to their education and to their lives, and act as leaders in the improvement of their communities. It has been recognized as one of the leading spoken word youth development and education organizations in the nation and is understood to be the largest such organization in the Southeast. Last year, Southern Word reached more than 5,000 youth in eight Tennessee counties, including placing writer mentors in almost every Nashville high school. He will be joined by writer mentor Dylan Phillips.

“I invest in the Rotary Club’s projects because I think we can do so much more collectively than individually…both from a financial and volunteer perspective.”